Stay on track with Physics

Here’s a lot of tough questions you could expect in the Class 12 physics paper.

Question No.1.A convex lens of focal length 20 cm is placed 10 cm in front of a convex mirror of radius 15 cm.Where should a point object be placed in front of the lens so that it images on itself. [3]

Approach to the problem:

(a) The question arises: How to place an object behind the mirror as the center of curvature of a convex mirror is behind the mirror? The answer to this problem lies in the fact that the image formed by a convex lens becomes the virtual object for the mirror. For this to happen, rays after refraction will fall normally on mirror. So after normal incidence, rays will retrace their path (as reflected rays) and will form final image on the object itself.

(b) As center of curvature is 15 cm and distance between lens and mirror is 10 cm so for convex lens image distance is 25 cm and focal length is 20 cm. Now by applying the lens formula

Note :In optics, normally we find a system of optical elements with stipulation that the image is formed on the object itself. In such cases there has to be a mirror at the end of optical system and rays have to be incident normally on the mirror in order to retrace the path.

Question No. 2Converging rays are intercepted by a concave lens of focal length 20 cm. If the rays originally converged to a point 10 cm behind the lens, where will they now converge after passing through the lens?

Approach to the problem:

(a) Whenever converging rays fall on an optical element, the object is virtual. In the absence of an optical element, the point of convergence is the position of the virtual object and the object distance u=distance from optical element to the point of convergence behind the optical element.

(b) In optics, students are advised to be clear about sign convention. Focal length of a concave lens is negative whereas focal length of convex lens is positive.

Question No. 4.Two conducting, concentric sphere are having radii a and b. The outer sphere is given a charge Q. What is the charge on inner sphere if it is earthed?

Misconception:Generally students think that when body is earthed, the charge goes to earth i.e., Q = 0 on the body.

But when object is earthed, it means its potential is zero, but charge on it may not be zero.
So, in order to solve this, take potential on it as zero and assume that charge on it (inner sphere) is q  and hence solve for q’